Global Surface Paleo-Temperature Modeling Tool

1. A method for modeling sediment surface paleo-temperature comprising: determining a latitudinal temperature gradient of a location for a time period in the geologic past based on a depositional environment of said location during said time period, wherein said depositional environment indicates whether a latitudinal temperature profile of land or a latitudinal temperature profile of ocean is used for said determining; adjusting said latitudinal temperature gradient of said location for said time period, wherein said adjusting includes applying a mean global temperature change for said time period to said latitudinal temperature gradient based on a latitude of said location for said time period; determining a surface temperature of said location during said time period using said latitudinal temperature gradient and said latitude of said location during said time period; modifying said surface temperature of said location during said time period based on an altitude of said location during said time period; and mapping said surface temperature of said location for said time period to produce a curve for petroleum modeling.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising refining said latitude of said location during said time period using a plate tectonic model.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said latitudinal temperature gradient is determined using said latitudinal temperature profile of ocean when said depositional environment of said location is ocean.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said latitudinal temperature gradient is determined using said latitudinal temperature profile of land when said depositional environment of said location is land.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said applying includes determining how said mean global temperature change is distributed to said latitude of said location using climate model simulations.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said modifying said surface temperature based on said altitude includes modifying said surface temperature based on a water-depth of said location during said time period when said depositional environment of said location is ocean.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said modifying said surface temperature based on said altitude includes modifying said surface temperature based on an elevation of said location during said time period when said depositional environment of said location is land.

8. A sediment surface paleo-temperature modeling tool comprising: a processor; and a non-transient storage medium having a computer program product stored therein, said computer program product, when executed, causing said processor to: determine a latitudinal temperature gradient of a location for a time period in the geologic past based on a depositional environment of said location during said time period, wherein said depositional environment indicates whether a latitudinal temperature profile of land or a latitudinal temperature profile of ocean is used to determine said latitudinal temperature gradient; adjust said latitudinal temperature gradient of said location for said time period by applying a mean global temperature change for said time period to said latitudinal temperature gradient based on a latitude of said location for said time period; determine a surface temperature of said location during said time period using said latitudinal temperature gradient and said latitude of said location during said time period; modify said surface temperature of said location during said time period based on an altitude of said location during said time period; and map said surface temperature of said location for said time period to produce a curve for petroleum modeling.

9. The modeling tool of claim 8 , wherein said computer program product, when executed, further causes said processor to refine said latitude of said location during said time period using a plate tectonic model.

10. The modeling tool of claim 8 , wherein said latitudinal temperature gradient is determined using said latitudinal temperature profile of ocean when said depositional environment of said location is ocean.

11. The modeling tool of claim 8 , wherein said latitudinal temperature gradient is determined using said latitudinal temperature profile of land when said depositional environment of said location is land.

12. The modeling tool of claim 9 , wherein said applying includes determining how said mean global temperature change is distributed to said latitude of said location using climate model simulations.

13. The modeling tool of claim 8 , wherein said surface temperature is modified based on a water-depth of said location during said time period when said depositional environment of said location is ocean.

14. The modeling tool of claim 8 , wherein said surface temperature is modified based on an elevation of said location during said time period when said depositional environment of said location is land.

15. A system for modeling a basin and petroleum system comprising: a forward modeling simulator including a processor, wherein said processor: determines a latitudinal temperature gradient of a location for a time period based on a depositional environment of said location during said time period, wherein said depositional environment indicates whether a latitudinal temperature profile of land or a latitudinal temperature profile of ocean is used to determine said latitudinal temperature gradient; adjusts said latitudinal temperature gradient of said location for said time period by applying a mean global temperature change for said time period to said latitudinal temperature gradient based on a latitude of said location for said time period; determines a surface temperature of said location during said time period using said latitudinal temperature gradient and said latitude of said location during said time period; modifies said surface temperature of said location during said time period based on an altitude of said location during said time period; and maps said surface temperature of said location for said time period to produce a curve for petroleum modeling.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein said processor refines said latitude of said location during said time period using a plate tectonic model.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein said latitudinal temperature gradient is determined using said latitudinal temperature profile of ocean when said depositional environment of said location is ocean.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein said latitudinal temperature gradient is determined using said latitudinal temperature profile of land when said depositional environment of said location is land.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein said applying includes determining how said mean global temperature change is distributed to said latitude of said location using climate model simulations.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein said surface temperature is modified based on a water-depth of said location during said time period when said depositional environment of said location is ocean.

21. The system of claim 15 , wherein said surface temperature is modified based on an elevation of said location during said time period when said depositional environment of said location is land.